Mayor Dorothy McCabe delivered her 2026 State of the City address on April 16 at the University of Waterloo, outlining several major city initiatives and future development plans for Waterloo, Ontario.
One of the primary updates shared during the event was the upcoming construction of Union1. This project marks the first building in a larger effort known as BUILD NOW, which is located at 2025 University Avenue East. The project is described as one of Canada’s largest affordable housing developments and will eventually feature over 1,000 units. Groundbreaking for the first phase is expected to take place this spring.
In addition to housing, the city announced a $540,000 investment over three years into a new medical technology development program. This initiative, run in partnership with the Accelerator Centre, is intended to support and grow up to 45 local startups. The mayor also discussed Waterloo’s involvement in the Waterloo Region AI Coalition, a group led by Communitech and supported by the University of Waterloo, which aims to make the community a hub for responsible artificial intelligence adoption.
The event was hosted by Rotary Waterloo, an organization that has served the community since 1963. The gathering successfully raised more than $24,000 for the Waterloo Wayside Centre, which provides support for youth, seniors, and marginalized populations in the area, along with an additional $5,000 for the Rotary Community Grant Fund.
Mayor McCabe has served as mayor since her election on October 24, 2022. As the city approaches the next municipal election on October 26, 2026, the administration noted that the city’s share of property taxes has risen by 27 percent during this current term.
